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World Religions
Gerrit van Dyk, Brigham Young University, Secretary

MEMBERS PRESENT

• Gerrit van Dyk, Brigham Young University, Chair
• Yasmine Abou-El-Kheir, Chicago Theological Seminary
• Ellen Frost, Southern Methodist University
• Ann Heinrichs, Catholic Theological Union (retired)
• Beth Kumar, Graduate Theological Union Library
• Deanna Roberts, Union Theological Seminary & Columbia 

University
• Craig Rosenbeck, unaffiliated
• Yesan Sellan, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian  

Studies
• Kitty Serling, Research Medical Center
• Stephen Sweeney, Saint John Vianney Seminary
• Alexis Weiss, Loyola Marymount University
• Brian Wright, Colorado Christian University

MEMBERS ABSENT

• Drew Baker, Claremont School of Theology
• Patrick Milas, New Brunswick Theological Seminary
• Megan Welsh, University of Colorado

AGENDA

Introduction

1) Round robin introductions
2) Reviewed WRIG mission
3) Introduced steering committee members
4) Group digital photo



32  A NNUA L Y E A RBOOK

Leadership nominations

• Beth Kumar, chair
• Deanna Roberts, member-at-large
• Alexis Weiss, vice-chair-elect

Discussion of 2019–20 WRIG initiatives

• Atlantis posts regarding religious diversity
• Migration of Wabash sites to LibGuides

 ˏ Looking for coordinators
 ˏ Looking for content experts
 ˏ Each institution has internal purposes which may not be the 

same as the goal of world religious studies
 ˏ Created for librarians, not patrons in mind—as such, the best 

resources on a particular subject/world religion

• Atla Annual 2020 WRIG-sponsored session:

 ˏ Christine D’Arpa, School of Information Sciences at Wayne 
State University, “Open Doors and Good Intentions are Not 
Enough: Cultivating Cultural Competencies in LIS Education 
and Practice” (85 participants attended)

Discussion: How can WRIG encourage/facilitate spaces and 
outreach to bring new people and voices into the group?

• Breakout groups identified possibility of collaborating with 
the Technical Services Interest Group for bilingual cataloging 
records

• Reaching out to smaller institutions to join Atla conversations
• Develop regular worship services at Atla Annual for religious 

traditions outside of Christianity
• Possibly create an open conversation circle to discuss world 

religions at Atla Annual



Interest Group Meetings  33

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES (HOSTED PROGRAMS)

Atla Annual session: “So Your School is Becoming More Religiously 
Diverse”
Presenters: Drew Baker, Beth Kumar, Patrick Milas, Brian Wright

Over the past decade, many Atla member institutions have become 
increasingly religiously diverse. From larger actions, like starting 
new interreligious programs or partnering with other institutions, 
to smaller steps, like changing branding and programming, many 
institutions have actively sought to become more ecumenical and/
or interreligious and attract more students from religious tradi-
tions beyond the institutions’ particular historical traditions. Given 
this reality, how can librarians at these schools adapt to serve their 
increasingly religiously diverse students better? What do librarians 
whose institutions are moving in more ecumenical or interreligious 
directions need to consider? From collection development to refer-
ence and instruction, this panel will reflect on their topic as the 
panelists raise important questions and provide helpful practical 
advice based on their experiences at their own institutions.

Atla Annual session: “Spiritual Care in a Multicultural and Inter-
faith Environment”
Presenters: Syed Nasir Zaidi

Dr. Syed Nasir Zaidi, research associate at Vancouver School of Theol-
ogy, scholar of Quran & Islamic theology, and interfaith chaplain, 
will speak about lessons learned from providing spiritual care in a 
multicultural and interfaith environment.


